Japan to increase visa fees to a level similar to the ones charged in Europe and the USA

According to economic weekly Nikkei, Japan is preparing to raise its visa application fees. It would then match levels with charges implemented in the United States and Europe. The move comes as the government faces mounting administrative costs driven by a record influx of foreign visitors.

A visa fee at the same level than the rest of the world?

The revised fee structure will be bench-marked against rates set by Group of Seven (G7) nations and other member states of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Details of the increase are still being finalized, but the new pricing could take effect as early as the next fiscal year, following a period of public consultation by the Foreign Ministry.

Currently, a single-entry visa to Japan costs about 3,000 yen (roughly $20), while a multiple-entry visa costs 6,000 yen (about $40).

By contrast, the U.S. charges $185 for short-stay visas, the U.K. $177, and Canada around $71. Schengen countries such as France, Germany, and Italy set their short-term visa fees at 90 euros (approximately $105).

While these nations have periodically raised their fees to reflect inflation, currency shifts, and migration pressures, Japan’s visa fees have remained unchanged since 1978, according to government records.

Officials say that the surge in inbound travel has created a need for more personnel to process visa applications, sharply driving up administrative costs.

Japan is also considering collecting visa fees at the time of application, in line with U.S. and European procedures, to deter frivolous submissions and streamline operations.

Tourism to Japan has soared this year. The country welcomed 21.5 million international visitors in the first half of 2025, up from 17.8 million during the same period last year—the first time inbound arrivals have exceeded 20 million in a six-month stretch.

Nikkei reports that authorities believe, a higher visa fee is unlikely to deter travelers but could help ease the impact of overtourism. Japan currently requires short-stay visas for visitors from more than 120 countries, including China, Vietnam, and the Philippines. In 2024, Japan issued 5.24 million visas to Chinese nationals, accounting for about 70% of all visas, followed by 570,000 to Filipinos and 320,000 to Vietnamese travelers.

At the same time, visa exemptions remain in place for 74 nations and regions, including the U.S., South Korea, Australia and most European countries.

LDP Party looks at raising more money from foreign travelers

Within the government and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), some lawmakers have called for broader measures to increase tourism-related revenue without raising taxes on residents. Proposals include scrapping the consumption tax exemption for foreign tourists and raising the international departure tax, currently levied on outbound travelers.

Revenue from this international tourism levy hit a record 48.1 billion yen (about $318 million) between April 2024 and April 2025—a 33% year-on-year increase, according to the Finance Ministry.

If approved, Japan’s new visa pricing structure would mark its first major adjustment in nearly half a century, signaling a definitive policy shift.